CommuniToy Research and Development: Build Brighton R&D Day 3: Lego Matrix - how can lego be used to teach children aged 4 about dot matrix pixel coding

Monday, 10 February 2014

Build Brighton R&D Day 3: Lego Matrix - how can lego be used to teach children aged 4 about dot matrix pixel coding

David, Hannah + Nic

We discussed the possibilities of integrating a 8x8 LED Matrix into CommuniToy toy hacks.

One idea is to make a Lego interface to be used to teach children aged 4+ how to turn on LED's on a LED Matrix. This playful interface could be used to teach how pixel graphics are generated. Above is a first stage example of how the system works.

It's possible to create more complex versions, which are colour specific (i.e. a red Lego brick will turn on a red LED, or a blue Lego brick a blue LED).

The 8x8 LED Matrix would be a fun digital component to integrate into a toy hack.

We could make a CommuniToy version of the classic three wise monkeys, which are digital interfaces;

See no evil = LED Matrix

Hear no evil = microphone recorder

Speak no evil = speaker

We also further discussed how a larger LED Matrix can work if installed into a portable flight case, also containing an Arduino, Raspberry Pi, PSU, and instructions. We turn the case project into a multi-group collaborative workshop by making 6 x cases containing the same equipment. Each case could be used by a group to design digital LED characters, and a maze to play in. All the case could be connected together to form a giant maze, and provide a multiplayer inter-connected maze game.

Check out the 8x8 RGB LED Matrix below;